Senators Articles: Payer's possible return could stabilize B-Sens' shaky lineup
January 30, 2004

Posted by: Bob Howard
Credit: Press Connects.com

Payer's possible return could stabilize B-Sens' shaky lineup

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Press & Sun-Bulletin

BINGHAMTON -- Now that his head is clear, Serge Payer wants to stay clear of further injury long enough to help the Binghamton Senators avoid the insult of missing the playoffs.

Payer, absent for three games after a frightening collision with defenseman Steve Bancroft in practice eight days ago yielded the first concussion of his four-year career, took contact Thursday and is expected to play tonight in Albany against the last-place River Rats.

The concussion came on the heels of a hip injury suffered Dec. 28 in Philadelphia that kept Payer out for four games and disrupted a pre-Christmas stretch in which he'd scored three goals in four games and become the Senators' most productive center.

"It's frustrating, especially since things were just starting to go well," Payer said. "I started playing better at Christmas time. I wasn't ready for the Christmas break. Then one injury leads to another. But I'm thankful I'm back now. Hopefully it's for good."

Payer's return could coincide with a position change. Last week's acquisition of Charlie Stephens in the Dennis Bonvie trade gives the Senators four natural centers, and in the interest of bolstering the top three lines, coach John Paddock is considering shifting Payer to the wing.

"Obviously you get used to playing certain positions," Payer said, "but I played the wing at the NHL level (with the Florida Panthers in 2000-01) and I think it's always an asset to learn and build your confidence at different positions."

But Payer may be needed at center this weekend, depending on the status of captain Chris Kelly.

Kelly didn't practice after suffering a back injury in the first period of Wednesday night's 3-2 victory in Rochester, and his availability for tonight's game and Saturday night's East Division clash with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton won't be known until at least after this morning's game-day skate.

Paddock said right wing Brad Tapper, KO'd the past two days by the flu, will likely play tonight. But he probably won't have winger Josh Langfeld, who met the Ottawa Senators in Phoenix on Thursday because Martin Havlat (hamstring) couldn't play against the Coyotes.

"We could have everybody or we could have Payer and Tapper instead of Langer and Kells," said Paddock. "It's possible we could have them all, depending on what happens."

The Senators, winners of two straight games, could use them all this weekend, as the East Division standings are growing tighter. They are one point behind fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, three ahead of sixth-place Norfolk and nine in front of Albany. The division's top five teams will make the playoffs.

"You look at the standings and what's most important are the games we play against teams in our division," Payer said. "We're trying to keep this (winning) streak alive."